Conveyer feeding apparatus



July 17, 1951 .9. w. STILES CONVEYER FEEDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1949 INVENTOR. JOHN W. STI LES 4 TTORIVEX July 17, 1951 J. w. s'nLEs CONVEYER FEEDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1949 F IG. 7

JNVEN'IOR. JOHN w. STILJES WK 4 7 TOAWFX Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER FEEDING APPARATUS John W. Stiles, New York, N. Y.

Application July 6, 1949, Serial No. 103,233

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a conveyor feeding "system for discharging a continuous line of units, the device being of the type conventionally referred to as an unscrambler, and being in the same general category as the invention described in my prior Patent No. 2,389,696, granted November 2'7, 1945. It is an object of this invention to enable the continuous feeding and unscrambling of irregular shaped units as distinguished from the :round units for which the conveyor of the abovementioned patent is particularly suited. More specifically, it is within my contemplation to provide a device adapted to efiect the operative feeding into a single-line discharge portion of such units as irregular shaped containers, polygonal shaped cans, catsup bottles, whiskey and wine flasks, pharmaceutical and cosmetic flat and odd shaped bottles, and objects of multipanel configuration.

It is also an important objective of this invention to enable the feeding of a group of irregular units into straight-line formation without jamming at the discharge gate.

It is within the contemplation of this invention, in one aspect thereof, to enable the straight-line unscrambler unit of the patent above-mentioned to be readily transformed into a unit embodying the mechanical aspects of the present invention, whereby presently existing installations made according to the structure of my said prior patent may be enabled to expand their fields of applicability from round units to those of irregular shapes.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide adjusting means whereby the apparatus will be adapted for operative use with units of various proportions.

And it is still a further object of my invention to provide a relatively simple and automatically operable device capable of accomplishin the objectives above-mentioned.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple belt unscrambler unit, embodying a preferred form of my invention, the unit being shown adjacent a single line conveyor belt.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure l, a portion of the sprocket chain being removed for clarity.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view, substantially like a portion of Figure 2, but showing the 2 l operation of ccacting belt and wheel components upon flasks being conveyed by the unit.

Figure 4 is a View like Figure 3, but showing another position of the wheel and the cam device thereon for actuating the spring loaded guide rail of my invention. 7

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of Figure 2 taken substantially along line 55 thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along line Ei6 of Figure 2, and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary section of Figured taken substantially along line '!l' thereof.

In the preferred form of my invention illustrated, I employ an unscrambler unit substantially like that shown in my said prior Patent No. 2,389,696. Said unit comprises a swingably mounted loading table I 0 at the rear of the three parallel conveyor belts H, [2 and I3; these being preferably operated at different speeds, belt ll operatin at the lowest speed, belt 3 at the highest, and belt I 2 at an intermediate speed. It is, however, to be understood that the speed of said belts is not controlling with respect to the improved structure of the present invention, which will hereinafter be described. Said belts move forwardly in the direction of arrow A, and are operated by an internal mechanism not herein shown, but described in my said prio'r patent. The said driving mechanism is disposed within the casing l4, and is connected to a'gear box I5 which drives the bevel gear IS in engagement with gear I! fixedly mounted on vertical shaft [8 extendin through the bearings l9. Mounted upon the shaft I8 are the drive pulleys 20 engaging the double V-belt 2|, said belt being in engagement with the idler sheaves 22, 23 and 24. The latter two sheaves 23and '24 are mounted at the rear of the structure the idler sheave 22 at the rear of the discharge gate 25 being suspended from the overhead bridge yoke 26. Section 21 of belt 2| extends transversely across the conveyor belts ll, I2 and I3 and slopes rearwardly towards the discharge side of the structure, said portion 21 extending only partly across the extreme right of discharge belt I3 so as to provide a discharge entrance 28 below yoke 26 through which the outgoing bottles must pass. The direction of rotation of belt 2| is such that portion 21 thereof moves in the direction of arrow B, that is, towards entrance 28, whereby containers or other units carried by belts ll, [2 and I3, and which engage portion 21 of the belt, will be directed thereby towards said entrance 28 and out through exit 25, substantially in the manner taught in my said prior patent.

The said yoke 26 contains, as one of its elements, an outer vertical post 29 frictionally held in predetermined position relative to the con veyor unit by the clamps 39, said clamps being secured to the casing structure it adjacent the discharge belt [3. Said clamps 39 each have a hole 3| for accommodating said post 29, the clamps being further provided with split friction bushings 32 disposed within said holes 39 and in frictional holding engagement with post 29. The yoke also contains an inner short downwardly extending arm 33 rotatively supporting at the lower terminal thereof the idler sheaves 22, said sheaves containing a bushing 34, and being flanked top and bottom by the collars 35 and 35 which are secured to arm 33 by screws 31 and 38. The upper portions of post 29 and arm 33 have horizontal arms 39 and Ml extending towards each other and disposed within the tubular sleeve 4|. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the am. 39 is welded on to the sleeve 40, and arm 40 is slidably and adiustably movable within. the

sleeve, and adapted to be held in a set position by the screw 42. The arrangement is hence such that. the position of sheaves 22 can be adjusted, so as to vary the width of discharge entrance 28, and thereby accommodate the device to containers of various widths.

Rotatively positioned over the post 23 is the sleeve 53 which has fixedly secured thereto the sprocket wheel 44 and the friction wheels 55 and A6, to be more specifically hereinafter described. The said sleeve 43 is further provided with bushings 4.! and 43, and is held in a predetermined position on post 21 by the collars 49 and 58 fixedly secured to said post 29. Since said collars are provided with set screws 5i and 52, it is apparent that the entire unit, including the wheels 44, 45 and 46 can be adjustably moved up or down, to accommodate containers, or other units being conveyed, of various heights.

The said wheels M and 45 are spaced a predetermined distance apart, and their relative spacing can further be adjusted by releasing the screws53 and 54 and sliding one or both of the wheels along the sleeve 43. Said wheels have preferably flat peripheral faces 55 and 56, which are provided with circumferential facings 5'! and 58 of material of a high coefficient of friction, such as gum rubber. the outer surface of said facings be serrated or otherwise roughened.

Disposed preferably between said friction wheels 45 and 46 is the cam 59, this being fixedly secured to sleeve 43, whereby it will operatively revolve together with wheels M, 45 and 46. In its preferred form this cam is diamond-shaped, having two laterally disposed high cam surfaces 68' and 61 and two lateral low cam surfaces 5-2 and :63. In the construction illustrated, surfaces and BI are diametrically opposed with respect to each other and surfaces 62 and 63 are similarly diametrically opposite, and the opposed surfaces are preferably equidistant with respect to said center. The difference between the said center of rotation of the cam and the said raised and loweredsurfaces represent the throw of the cam.

Bearing against the operative peripheral surface of cam 59 is the follower 64 which is fixedly secured to bar 65 welded or otherwise secured to the spring guide rail iii mounted upon the rim 6'! of the casing. More specifically (see Figures 1 and 7-), the spring rail 61' contains a rear .fiat portion 68' to which is welded or otherwise secured the channel member 69 frictionally disn It is also preferred that a Iii posed over said rim Bl. Said rail extends forwardly from said section 68 thereof over the discharge conveyor l3, to a point short of discharge entrance 28, and in the preferred form thereof contains a bifurcated flat front portion 10 comprising an upper leg H and a lower leg 12. Leg II is in operative engagement with cam 59, and leg 12 is disposed below friction wheel 45, the lower of the wheels, whereby the latter leg will be positionedv adjacent discharge belt I33 so that it will operatively engage, as will more clearly hereinafter appear, the conveyed units near their bases. The spring action of rail 66 is such as to be in constant yieldable engagement with the cam 59; and the parts are so disposed and proportioned that when leg H is in engagement with the low points 62 and 63 of the cam, the inner portions of friction wheels 45 and 46 will extend inwardly beyond the fiat terminal portion Ii! of the rail 66, for direct engagement with the units being conveyed.

A back-upplate: 1 3 is adjustably mounted on the structure directly behind portion 21 of the belt, said plate containing a fiat horizontal member M in engagement with the rear of belt portion 21, to resist a flexing. of said belt portion when it is operatively engaged by units moving towards the. exit gate. Such flexing might result from. a jamming at the discharge entrance, particularly in the feeding of rectangular or .odd shaped containers; and it is important for the most effective operation .of this unit that under these conditions, belt portionzl be maintained in a non-flexed condition. The plate 13 is further provided with a bracket 15 containing slot 16 through which extendsv the screw Ti adjustably holding the bracket to the structure.

In the operation of this device, the belt .2 I. moves, in the particular embodiment illustrated, in a counter-clockwise direction. Since the shaft 58- carries the fixedly mounted sprocket wheel 18 which is connected by sprocket chain 19 to sprocket wheel M, it is apparent that the operative rotation of shaft [.8 similarly causes a counter-clockwise rotation of friction wheels 65 and it. Accordingly, the portions of the belt 2| and of the wheels at and i6. which are opposed to each other andv which form the discharge entrance 23 move. in opposite directions; and it is this arrangement which contributes to the prevention of jamming at said discharge entrance, in a manner to be now described.

As flasks 86 move forwardly on conveyor belts H, 12 and i3, they will be engagedv by said portion 2'? of the V-belt 2i, and directed towards discharge entrance 28, as aforesaid. When the units being conveyed are not circular, as in the case of the fiat flasks 88 illustrated, there may not be the spinning effect described in said Patent No. 2,389,696. Hence, there is possibility of a jamming of two or more jars within said entrance 28. By referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that flasks 5 3a and 8% are both seeking to enter the entrance 28'. However, due to the fact that flask b is in engagement with the flat friction surfaces of wheels l5 and M5, the counterclockwise movement of said wheels will draw flask Eiiib rearwardly to the dot-dash position indicated. This will leave flask 86c free to move forwardly under the action of belt portio 21.

The spring loaded guide rail 66 serves as further assurance against the jamming, since it removes flasks approaching the exit gate from the path where they will cause a For example, by referring to Figure 4, the dot-dash position of flask 8|a is such that it is traveling in a direction where it might possibly cause a jam at the discharge entrance. However, due to the action of cam 59, the rail 66 is urged in -wardly towards the conveyor structure, causin the flask 8la to move to the full-line position indicated. It has been found that the oscillating movement of spring guide 66, such as is effectuated by the cam arrangement illustrated, serves to direct jars away from jamming positions. Furthermore, the periodic impulse of the guide rail 66 against jars that are in the discharge entrance 28, produces a retraction or removal of said jamming flasks from the crowded corridor.

The combination of the action of belts ll, l2 and I3, belt portion 21, friction wheels 45 and 46 and the oscillating guide rail 56, constitutes "an arrangement for directing groups of oddshaped units towards the discharge gate without danger of jamming, whereupon a row of such units will be directed uninterruptedly towards the adjacent single line conveyor 32. And it is to be noted that since the oscillating guide 56 is preferably made of spring material, its yieldability will prevent any damage to fragile units being conveyed.

It will further be observed, by comparing the structure above-described with that of my said prior patent, that the unscrambler of the patent can readily be modified to accommodate the improvements constituting. the present invention.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by Way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is .to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such li1nitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a friction Wheel over said discharge side rearwardly of the dis-- charge gate and spaced from the discharge puldischarge pulley, and said paths being defined by the respective portions of the friction wheel and discharge pulley on opposite sides of said throat region.

2. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative por tion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a friction wheel over said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, the facing portions of the discharge pulley and friction wheel which flank the discharge entrance rotating in opposite directions, and a bridge yoke member comprising a post upon which the friction wheel is rotatably supported, an intermediate bridge portion extending across and spaced above the discharge'entrance, and a downwardly extending arm rotatably supporting the said discharge pulley.

3. In a conveyor feeding unit, the combination according to claim 2, the bridge portion of the yoke member being horizontally extensible,- for varying the width of the discharge entrance.

4. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a friction wheel over said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, the facing portions of the discharge pulley and friction wheel which flank the discharge entrance rotating in opposite directions, a rotatably mounted cam adjacent the friction wheel, and a guide rail over the said discharge side of the belt conveyor means and in operative engagement with the cam, whereby the guide rail will be oscillated by the cam during the rotation thereof.

5. In a conveyor feeding unit, the combination according to claim 4, said guide rail being in yieldiable pressing engagement with the cam.

6. In a conveyor feeding unit, the combination according to claim 4, said cam having a high cam surface thereon proportioned operatively to move the guide rail outwardly beyond the periphery of the wheel.

7. In a conveyor feeding unit, the combination according to claim 4, said guide rail being in yieldable pressing engagement with the cam, said cam having a high and a low cam surface thereon, the high surface being proportioned operatively to move the guide rail outwardly beyond the periphery of the wheel, the low surface being proportioned to hold the guide rail at a position where the operative periphery of the wheel extends beyond the rail. I

8. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, two spaced rotatable friction wheels over said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, both wheels being mounted for simultaneous rotation in the same direction, the facing portions of the discharge pulley and the friction wheels which flank the. discharge entrance rotating in. opposite directions, a cam. disposed between the two said wheels and rotatable therewith, and a guide rail. over the said. discharge side of. the belt conveyor means and in operative engagement with the cam, whereby the guide rail be oscillated by the cam during the rotation thereof;

9. In a conveyor feeding unit, the combination according to claim 8, said guide rail being in yieldable pressin engagement with the cam, the operative terminal of the rail being bifurcated and straddling one of said wheels.

10.. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, av guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including; a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed, generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towardsits discharge side, a friction wheelover-said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, the facing portions of the discharge pulley and friction wheel which flank the discharge entrance rotating in. opposite directions, a guide rail over said discharge side of the belt conveyor means, supporting means for mounting the guide rail for movement in; a horizontal, plane over the belt conveyor means, and means for oscillating the guide rail in said horizontal plane.

11. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear. operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the saidbelt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a friction wheel over said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, th facing portions of the discharge pulley and friction wheel which flank the discharge entrance rotating inopposite directions, a guide member extending approximately in the direction of movement. of said conveyor belt means, means for mounting said guide member for movement in a horizontal plane over the belt conveyor means from a position outwardly of the innermost portion of the periphery of said friction wheel to a position substantially between the friction wheel and the discharge pulley, and actuating means for moving said guide member between said two positions.

12.. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge'side, a friction wheel over said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, the facing portions of the discharge pulley and friction wheel whichflank the discharge entrance rotating in opposite directions, aguide member, means for mounting said guide.- member for movement over the belt conveyor means from a first position between the axis of rotation and periphery of the friction wheel to a second. position beyond the periphery of the friction wheel, spring means biasing said guide member toward one of said posit-ions, and actuating means for periodically moving said guide member to the other of said positions.

13. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a rotatably mounted cam, a guide rail over the discharge end of the belt conveyor means and in operative engagement with the cam, whereby the guide rail will he oscillated by the cam during the rotation thereof.-

14. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly movin belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys opera tively supporting said guide belt and including discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having in rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a guide rail over said discharge side of the belt conveyor means, supporting means for mounting the guide rail for movement in a horizontal plane over the belt conveyor means, and means for oscillating the guide rail in said horizontal plane.

15. In a conveyor feeding unit, forwardly moving belt conveyor means, a discharge gate at a predetermined discharge side of the conveyor means, a guide belt, a plurality of pulleys operatively supporting said guide belt and including a discharge pulley adjacent the said discharge side, said guide belt having a rear operative portion disposed generally transversely across a portion of the said belt conveyor means and movable towards its discharge side, a friction wheel over said discharge side rearwardly of the discharge gate and spaced from the discharge pulley to form therebetween a discharge entrance, the feein portions of the discharge pulley and friction wheel which flank the discharge entrance rotating in opposite directions, the outer peripheral surface of said friction wheel being circular so as to move objects in contact therewith along a path substantially opposite to the direction of movement of said. conveyor belt means.

JOHN W. STILES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date aoe'moe Lidberg July 7, 1936 2,373,600 Richey Apr. 10, 1945 2,389,496 Gagnon Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,696 Stiles Nov. 27-, 1945 

